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Triptych of One-Column Calligraphies on Auspicious Natural Imagery

1671
Not on view
The Chan master Yinyuan Longqi founded Manpukuji Temple in Uji, on the southern outskirts of Kyoto, in 1661. His arrival in Japan from China marked a revitalization of Rinzai Zen monastic practice, and his robust calligraphy—in great demand by followers as well as members of the public—established a legacy in which Ōbaku monks excelled in the medium. Here, Yinyuan created a tableau of auspicious phrases using metaphors from nature; from right to left, it reads:

寿山青不老
慧日映慈門
福海碧無窮

The mountain of longevity,
evergreen, never grows old.
The sun of wisdom illuminates
the gateway to compassion.
The sea of good fortune,
deep blue, is boundless.

—Trans. John T. Carpenter

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 隠元隆琦筆 一行書三幅対
  • Title: Triptych of One-Column Calligraphies on Auspicious Natural Imagery
  • Artist: Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki) (Chinese, 1592–1673)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: 1671
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Set of three hanging scrolls: ink on paper
  • Dimensions: Image (a (right)): 49 15/16 × 14 9/16 in. (126.8 × 37 cm)
    Overall with mounting (a (right)): 84 13/16 × 21 3/8 in. (215.5 × 54.3 cm)
    Image (b (center)): 50 1/16 × 14 9/16 in. (127.1 × 37 cm)
    Overall with mounting (b (center)): 85 1/16 × 21 3/8 in. (216 × 54.3 cm)
    Image (c (left)): 49 7/8 × 14 9/16 in. (126.7 × 37 cm)
    Overall with mounting (c (left)): 85 1/16 × 21 3/8 in. (216 × 54.3 cm)
  • Classification: Calligraphy
  • Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2024
  • Object Number: 2024.412.9a–c
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Handscroll of Calligraphy by Ōbaku Zen Monks, Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki) , and 41 other Ōbaku monks Chinese, Forty-three sheets mounted as a pair of handscrolls; ink on paper, Japan
Handscroll of Calligraphy by Ōbaku Zen Monks
Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki)
mid-17th to mid-18th century
“The Way of the patriarchs spans a thousand years”, Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki) Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan
“The Way of the patriarchs spans a thousand years”
Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki)
17th or 18th century
“Udumbara Flowers” (Udonge) Temple Plaque, Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki) Chinese, Carved wood; lacquer, color, and gold, Japan
“Udumbara Flowers” (Udonge) Temple Plaque
Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki)
carved 1741
The Gateway Character “Lotus” , Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki) Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan

The Gateway Character “Lotus”

Multiple artists/makers
late 17th century
One-Column Calligraphy on the Sound of Wind amidst Pines, Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki) Chinese, Hanging scroll; ink on paper, Japan
One-Column Calligraphy on the Sound of Wind amidst Pines
Yinyuan Longqi (Ingen Ryūki)
late 17th century

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